Amateur-built RANS S-10 accident near Stanwood, Washington, August 17, 1991
On August 17, 1991 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-10, registered N35PR, was destroyed in an accident near Stanwood, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE PILOT'S ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO DECELERATE BELOW THE STALL SPEED DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1991 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Stanwood, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-10
- Registration
- N35PR · no longer on the register · serial 0288006
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE SINGLE ENGINE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WAS ON A RECREATIONAL FLIGHT DURING WHICH THE ONLY EYEWITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE 'SPUTTERING' AND 'REVVING'. THE WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 300-400 FEET ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN GRASSY FIELD. ONE BLADE OF THE WOODEN PROPELLER WAS OBSERVED SEPARATED WITH THE REMAINING BLADE STILL ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE AND RELATIVELY UNDAMAGED. UPWARD AND DOWNWARD AFT BENDING DEFORMATION WAS EVIDENT ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT WINGTIPS RESPECTIVELY AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECALL THE ACCIDENT SCENARIO AND EXPIRED 7 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 254 hours in all; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S88 Arlington WA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:59 pm from S76, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.